Neighborhood Notes: Tryouts, Personal Finance, and More

Neighborhood Notes: Free Immigration Service

Free Air Conditioner Free air conditioners are available to Bronx residents who either receive Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, Temporary Assistance (TA), Supplemental Security Income (SSI), and did not receive an air conditioner by the Home Energy Assistance Program. Income-eligibility requirements also apply. For more information, call (212) 331-3126, or visit the Department of Human Resources Administration at 1932 Arthur Ave., Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Commercial Lease Help Northwest Bronx Community & Clergy Coalition offers free legal help to small businesses in negotiating commercial leases with their landlords. Businesses have to be in New

By DAVID CRUZ

North Central Bronx Hospital (NCBH) has found its new CEO in one of ITS own, a week after officials with NYC Health + Hospitals initially snubbed her for the post. Cristina Contreras has been kicked upstairs to run the hospital after service as the city-funded hospital’s chief operating officer. Contreras succeeds outgoing NCBH head Maureen Pode, who announced her retirement. “We are lucky to have Cristina Contreras take on this new senior administrative post,” said NYC Health + Hospitals President and CEO Mitchell Katz, MD, in a statement. “Her leadership and commitment to the hospital staff, patients, and the community

Latest Edition of the Norwood News is Out!

By DAVID CRUZ

Dear Fellow Readers, After taking a tiny break to rejuvenate ourselves, the Norwood News is back with its latest edition. Check out 24 pages of community news happening in and around your Bronx neighborhood. We begin with page one! This story previews the impending traffic headaches set to fall on Norwood. It’s thanks to two road projects that will take out lanes and test your patience. Jonathan Custodio spoke with residents on their thoughts on the dual projects. Read the city’s response to the first project. Inside the cover you’ll find my first-person account of serving jury duty with Mayor Bill

SEE PHOTOS: Prepping for Back to School in the Bronx

The Norwood News was there to capture some of the goings-on at several back-to-school events with giveaways for the parents. Check out these photos by Jose A. Giralt.

With School Around the Corner, Norwood Projects Could Snarl Traffic

By DAVID CRUZ and JONATHAN CUSTODIO

Bainbridge Avenue in Norwood faces dual projects at its roads, which could spell traffic headaches for the hundreds of drivers that navigate the busy artery following the unofficial end of summer. The problems will likely come during the morning rush, when crews for both projects each running on opposite ends of Bainbridge Avenue–will be on the road. Between parents dropping off children at the neighborhood schools beginning the first day of school on Sept. 5, employees or visitors of Montefiore Health System and North Central Bronx Hospital, and shopping activity at the Jerome Gun Hill Business Improvement District, getting around

Hosting a Basketball Tournament in Memory of a Lost Family

By MARIYA MOSELEY

Eight of the best teams across the East Coast battled it out on the court during the 13th annual Gardiner Memorial Basketball Classic Tournament at St. James Park. But this event isn’t just about hooping. To the community, it’s about giving back while bringing together the youth for a series of activities with scholarships and giveaways. The tournament is organized by non-profit organization Gardiner Foundation who teamed up with Manhattan law firm Gersowitz Libo and Korek. Dexter Gardiner, founder of the Gardiner Foundation, created the organization after losing several family members more than a decade ago. One of those tragedies

Candidates Forum Reminds Voters of Races Beyond 34th Senate District

By DAVID CRUZ

As the focus continues on the 34th Senate District race between incumbent Sen. Jeff Klein and challenger Alessandra Biaggi, the Northwest Bronx Community & Clergy Coalition (NWBCCC) organized an issues-based forum that saw Biaggi but also candidates for the 33rd and 36th Senate District races. State Senators Gustavo Rivera and Jamaal Bailey, representing the 33rd and 36th Senate Districts respectively, are on the ballot. Bailey and Rivera, both Democrats, face a September primary against respective Republicans Steven Stern and Nicole Torres of the 33rd Senate District, and Robert Diamond of the 36th Senate District. Biaggi and Klein face Antonio Vitiello

Mosholu Library Receives $15000 in State Funds A Rarity (Web Picture)

By JONATHAN CUSTODIO

You can bookmark Aug. 21 as a special day for Mosholu Library, which received a novel $15,000 in state funds. “Our libraries are community hubs and places of resources and comfort,” said Assemblywoman Nathalia Fernandez, said at a news conference at the library on Aug. 21, “we can all relate in our passion for reading and looking for education, and really finding an escape.” The source of the newly distributed funds comes from discretionary funding of $60,000. The funds were evenly distributed to Allerton, Pelham Parkway-Van Nost and Morris Park libraries. Jane Addison-Amoyaw has managed the Mosholu library for the

The Bronx Breaks Ground on its Second YMCA

By MARTIKA ORNELLA

Speaking in front of a crowd of community leaders, lawmakers, and youth activists at the groundbreaking ceremony for the Edenwald YMCA, Mayor Bill de Blasio explained why the new facility will progress his goal of making New York the “fairest big city in America.” “For all of us who have spent a lot of our lives at Ys, we know the passion that people bring to the work,” de Blasio said at the ceremony on Aug. 20. “The fact that so many Bronxites are about to benefit because of what will be built here is truly, truly inspiring.” The 50,000